Councillor Eric Stork

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Two city councillors in Pointe-Claire were shocked to receive handwritten death threats delivered by regular post at Pointe Claire City Hall last week.

• The letters read: You AHole, You trou de cul, You go to hell, You foff, You drop dead, God save P.T.C.” with the names of the councillors at the top of the page.

Pointe-Claire Director General (DG) Karina Verdon was quick to take precautions after City Councillor Kelly Thorstad-Cullen received the first note earlier in the week. “She (Verdon) handed me the letter while I was present for an urban planning meeting (on Friday) and asked me to open it in front of her,” City Councillor Eric Stork explained to The Suburban. Once it was confirmed that Stork had received the same threatening letter as Thorstad-Cullen, the DG immediately contacted the local police station 5 of the Montreal Police (SPVM) to book appointments for both councillors to issue their statements to the authorities.

Stork believes that a possible reason he and Thorstad were targeted is because both sit on the housing development committee at the City of Pointe-Claire. “We received this letter right after we approved a social housing project that was met with some controversy,” Stork told The Suburban, “Both my family and I are fearful and concerned by this direct threat. This is what happens when people, especially those with influence over constituents, invite and create misinformation. Rooted in this, I believe is the divisive politics spoken by some elected officials. Regardless, I will continue to represent my citizens regardless of the actions committed by the cowardly few.”

“It was quite a shock to receive a letter with such hateful and threatening messages. These types of behaviours are disgraceful and completely unacceptable. Council members are citizens of Pointe-Claire who work hard to make a difference in our city for all of our fellow citizens. We are mothers, fathers, grandparents, teachers, nurses, firefighters and lifelong volunteers in the community. Respect and integrity must prevail over lies and hatred,” Thorstad-Cullen wrote to The Suburban.

This incident is being taken very seriously and anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the local police station at (514) 280-0105 or report anonymously via the Info Crime platform at www.infocrimemontreal.ca or by phone at (514) 393-1133. n